Wallingford's "Trail of Terror" Turns Sweet Sixteen
In 1994, Wayne Barneschi built a small haunted house in the front yard of his Wallingford home. Little did he
know that it would grow up to be one of the most famous haunted attractions in all of New England, and beyond: The Trail of Terror.
Named for the third consecutive year as "Best in Connecticut" by Connecticut Magazine, the award-winning "spook-tacular" is celebrating its 16th birthday this year, and attendance should be brisk. People come from all over the region to behold this masterful fright fest of bloody props, strobe lights, animated monsters and over 300 costumed actors, and even though the economy isn't exactly the best we've ever seen, this year should be no different. The attraction has grown and morphed over the years since its humble beginnings; recent additions include a haunted cathedral, Gotham City, the Good Shepherd Orphanage, Sweeny Todd, the Edgar Allan Poe house, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house, the Santa Claus Workshop, and a new morgue.
While the size and scope of the Trail has increased, so has its popularity, as evidenced by the hours-long wait in line to enter. Security staff has also been added to protect both the venue and its patrons, and there are 10 EMT's available should the fear factor prove too much. Barneschi also recently added the ability for patrons to buy tickets online, thus bypassing the possibility of driving a long distance to attend only to find that tickets have sold out. In years past, tickets were known to sell out by 8 or 9 PM, even though the trail is open until 11 PM. A 4-6 hour wait in line is not unheard of for this popular venue, so if you're looking for a great time with family or friends, go to the Trail of Terror web site now to purchase your tickets. The cost is $10 per person, or $20 for a speedpass. All proceeds benefit the Wallingford Emergency Shelter's new Family Center as well as other local charities, so you're not only having a screaming good time, you're helping a worthy cause to boot.
Here are the Trail's hours of operation for 2010:
October 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30: 7 PM to 11 PM (Friday & Saturday)
October 10, 17, and 23: 7 PM to 10 PM (Sunday)
(Oh, and don't forget to bring a "screamer" with you...Shotgun John says they just LOVE screamers in the Trail!)
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